Stressed, wired, and wide awake?

Whenever I’m stressed, my brain goes a million miles an hour.

I lie in bed replaying conversations…mentally rewriting my to-do list... thinking about everything I should have done and everything I still need to do.

And before I know it, I’ve been staring at the ceiling for HOURS!

Here’s where the knock-on effect kicks in…

👉 Poor sleep = rubbish productivity at work
👉 Poor sleep = worse recovery from workouts
👉 Poor sleep = hunger hormones all over the place (not ideal if you’re dieting)

And when you’re stressed and tired?

You naturally reach for comfort.
Sugar.
Takeaways.
Alcohol.

Not because you’re weak - but because your nervous system is fried.

The problem is, if you’re trying to lose weight or be healthier, that coping mechanism then creates more stress…

Cue guilt.
Frustration.
“I can’t get anything right” thoughts.

Welcome to the vicious cycle.

And to top it off, when stress is high, communication usually drops.
You snap at your partner.
You’re short with family or friends.Not because you’re angry - but because you’re overwhelmed.

More tension.
More stress.
Less sleep.

So no - the issue isn’t willpower.

It’s unmanaged stress.

Now, can we eliminate stress completely?
No. (If only 😅)

But we can manage it better so it doesn’t run the show.

Here’s where to start:

Scale back and prioritise
Everything feels urgent when you’re stressed - but not everything actually is.
The world will not end if an email waits until tomorrow.

Protect movement time
Exercise is often the first thing to go when stress hits…
But ironically, that’s when you need it most.
Even a short walk or light session helps regulate stress hormones and clears your head.

Bulletproof your sleep routine
This is the big one.

• No phone scrolling after a set time
• No caffeine after ~5pm
• Aim for a consistent bedtime
• Create a wind-down routine your body recognises

If you can get your sleep right, everything else becomes easier - appetite, mood, motivation, recovery… the lot.

Stress doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means your body is asking for support.

And learning how to manage stress is part of becoming a healthier, stronger version of you.

One calm evening at a time 💫